Thousands of Norfolk women not getting early maternity care
That's according to Public Health England figures.
Thousands of pregnant women in Norfolk are not getting their first appointment with a midwife early enough, figures reveal, potentially missing out on vital support for themselves and their baby.
The Royal College of Midwives says women living in deprived circumstances are particularly missing out on early maternity care, and has urged anyone to contact their local services as soon as they become pregnant to get the help they need.
Public Health England data shows 2,535 women in Norfolk did not have a midwife appointment within the first 10 weeks of pregnancy in 2018-19, the latest period for which figures are available.
That was 28% of those who had a first appointment during the year - although this was the third-lowest rate of 11 council areas in the East of England.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, which issues official guidance on health care, says pregnant women should see a midwife within the first 10 weeks
It is a chance to identify women in need of extra care due to family circumstances and other social factors, or medical history, and allows a midwife to do important tests and spot risks such as smoking.
Women who have their appointment after 20 weeks risk missing checks on their baby that can identify infectious diseases and other conditions, according to PHE.
Across the East of England as a whole, 37% of women seeing a midwife did not have their appointment in the first 10 weeks of pregnancy - the fifth-highest rate of England’s nine regions.
Nationally, 42% missed the 10-week window.
Lia Brigante, an advisor at the Royal College of Midwives, said: